Flywheel dynamo-electric machine for internal-combustion engines



Oct. 14 1924.

R. L. ASPDEN IC MACHINE` FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES FLYWHEEL DYNAMO BLECTR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 14 1924. 1,511,491

v R. L. ASPDEN FLYWHEEL DYNAMO ELECTRIC MQHINE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 2. 1922 V All IIa/v ere/"ban 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2E. Ldqjo d/ezz/ I 27 tty.

Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE.

yB,.A.`1'.|I1?H LEONARD ASPDEN, OF CHORLEY, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE ASPDEN FLY- WHEEL DYNAMOTOR SYNDICATE LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGgIaAND.

FLYWHEEL DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application led May 2,

To all whom t may concern: L

Be yit known that I, RALPH LEONARD AsPDEN, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, -and residing at 6 Southport Road, Chorley, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useiful Improvements in and Relating to Flywheel Dynamo-Electric Machines for Internal-Combustion Engines, 10 of which the following is a speciication.

The invention relates to improvements in fly-wheel dynamo-electric machines used or starting the engine particularly of automobile vehicles and especially to those. of the kind described in the United States Patent Specification No. 1419607. vIn the invention therein described, the entire flywheel is replaced by the rotary member of a dynamo-electric machine land two clutches are provided, one connecting said rotary member to the crank-shaft and the other serving as the usual main clutch for throwing inthe transmission element. In this device, two pedals are provided, one for actuating each of said clutches. f According to the present invention, only part of the usual flywheel isembodied in the rotary member of a dynamo-electric machine, the remainder of the flywheel being mounted as heretofore on the crankshaft. Such division of the iywheel into two parts permits of the employment of a single instrumentality for operating both clutches without the necessity of introducing any disengagement between said instrumentality and either of the clutches. Thus, for example, when running the main clutch is withdrawn for the purposes of changing gear, or otherwise, that part of the flywheel embodied in the rotary member of `the dynamoelectricmachine is thrown out of action, lbut the engine continuesI to run by virtue of the remaining part of the flywheel mounted on its shaft.

The present invention consists in the combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are oi ya. diagrammatic nature 60 Figure l shows a section through one form of dynamotor according to the present invention;-

Figure 2 that access may hows as an end' elevation ,the

1922. Serial NQ. 557,889.

structure of the brush-carryin ring and its position in relation to the eld magnets, while Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the auxiliary arcuate clutch members;

Figs. 4 and 5 show sectional views of modified forms of dynamotor according to. the present invention,

Figs@ is a general view showing the in vention in place on a portion of the automobile.

Where 4desirable, corresponding parts in the dierent figures are denoted by the same reference symbols.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one form, (see Figure l) specially applicable to a light motor road vehicle, the stationary member, a, of the dynamotor is mounted on a boss, b, or the like forming part of the crank case and carries the ield magnets, c, in a position just outside the boss. The stationary member may be substantially of a disc and sleeve formation, the sleeve, d, tting over .the boss and the disc at its outer periphery having mounted on it a ring, e, carrying the` brush holders, f, and brushes, f', the latter alternating in a circumferential direc tion with the field magnets as shown in Figure 2. The ring, e, is split at one point so that by merely loosening a screw, z., it can be turned round into any position ,desired to obtain access to the brush holders and brushes. In addition, one segment or length, e", of the ring between two adjacent brush holders is removable bodily, soI

be obtained to the commutator, z', itself. The latter member and the armature, c, are carried by a colmparan tively thick disc, m, from the face oi which they project into a position radially between the brushes, f", and the field magnets, c. The disc, m, is freely mounted on the crankshaft, a, and is adapted by means such as those to be hereinafter described, to be clutched to the flywheel, o, itself keyed on the crank-shaft, n. The 'fiywheeh o, is pro- A vided with the outer cone, r, of the usual transmission clutch, the member, s, carrying the inner cone, r2, being withdrawn against a spring, t; by the pedal in. the usual manner.

It is an advantage of the arrangement described Jthat thecommutator z", is in a con-= yat stant position axially in relation to the brushes, f', while the part which carried the armature in the original form of the invention and interfered somewhat with the silent changing of gear owing to its weight, can be materiallylightened. i

The special feature of the present invention consists in the arrangement whereby on inserting the main clutch, the armature-carrying or other rotatably mounted member of the dynamotor is automatically clutched to the flywheel or shaft, and for this purpose according tothe form illustrated in Figure 1, the clutch is divided into four arcuate portions, (see Figure 3) equally spaced along the circumference of a circle and each provided with a attened portion u, sliding axially in corresponding slots in the flywheel. 'lo one end of this flattened portion is secured a bevelled member, fv, which engages with a armature-carrying member, while on a stem,

w, projecting from the other end, are mounted in the order given a light spring, a', a washer, a, pinned to the stem, a heavy spring, 2, and a second washer,f3, slidable on the stem and in contactwith the inner-member, s, of the main clutch when the latter is in an operative position, movement of the washer in other conditions being limited by a taper pin through the stem or otherwise. The object of providing two springs is to compensate for wear of lining.

lin the "form of invention described, to

`start the engine from rest, themain clutch is withdrawn, the gears being in the neutral position, and current from the battery switched on to the dynamotorn In these circumstances the armature, lc, and its carrying member, m, being perfectly free will acquire a high speed and store considerable energy. The main clutch and simultaneously also the auxiliary clutches can then be gradually put in so that the engine is started up.

ln accordance with the present invention no disengaging devices are required between the pedal and the clutches, the operative relation of these parts being such that at all times both clutches can be operated from the one pedal.

According to the modification shown in Figure 4t, the arrangement of parts is in general similar to that described above but instead of cone clutches, plate clutches are provided in the manner shown. In the main clutch plates, l and 5, are associated respectively with the ywheel, o, and member, s, in such a manner that theyv can slide to a limited extent but cannot turn. Similarly,

as regards the auxiliary clutch, plates, 6 and' 7, are associated in like manner with the armature-carrying member, m, and the flywheel, o. rthe one spring, 8, puts pressure on both clutches by way of the pins, 9, slidthe member, s,

corresponding recess in the the main clutch ably mounted on the flywheel, o, depression of the clutch pedal, he armature .is automatically freed to rotate'on its bearin s. ln order to show how the two clutches may be operated from a single instrumentality such asthe main clutch pedal, reference is made to Figure 5 where the form of the inventionrshown in .Figure 4 is shown in operative relation to the parts of an automobile with which it is associated. v In this ligure the main clutch pedal, A, is rigidly mounted on the spindle, B, carrying a lever, C, which is connected by the link, D, to a lever, E, on a parallel spindle, F, another rigldly attached to which operates of Figure 4 by a pin, H. Any suitable wiring system may be used in conjunction with the mechanical constructions above described.

The invention may be applied either to lever, G,

stationary internal combustlon engines or to internal combustion engines fitted to motor boats, air-craft or other forms of motor vehicle.

Having now described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. lin apparatus of the kind indicated, the combination of an engine having a shaft, adynamo-electric machine having a rotary element co-axial with said shaft7 clutch means for planing said rotary element into operative relation to said shaft to form a driving-driven unit, a transmission `element, clutch means for connecting said transmission element to said driving-driven unit together with a `single' instrumentality for operating both said clutch means, said instrumentality being in permanent operative relation thereto, as set forth.

2. In apparatus of the kind indicated, the combina-tion of an engine having a shaft, a dynamo-electric machine having a rotary element co-axial with said shaft, clutch means for placing said rotary element into operative relation to said shaft to form a driving-driven unit, a. transmission element, clutch means for"connecting' said transmission element to said driving-driven unit together with a single instrumentalit for simultaneously operating both said clutch means, said instrumentality being in permanent operative relation thereto, as set forth.

3. In apparatus of the kind indicated, the combination of an engine shaft having an attachment in rigid relation thereto, a rotary element ot a dynamo-electric machine aving a rotary element co-axial with said sha-ft; means for clutching said rotary ele ment to said attachment, a transmissionelement'. means for clutching said transmission element to said attachment together with a single instrumentality for operating so that on i said clutching means, said instrumentality being in permanent operativev relation thereto, as set forth.

4. In apparatus of the kind indicated, the combination of an engine having a shaft, a rotary element of'a dynamo-electric machine co-axial with said shaft, and a powertransmission element; means for clutching said shaft, rotary element and power-transmission element together and a single instrumentality for actuating said clutching means, said instrumentality.y being in permanent operative relation thereto, as Set forth.

5. In apparatus of the kind indicated', the combination of an engine having a shaft, a rotary element of a dynamo-electric machine co-axial with said shaft, and a ypowertransmission element; means for simultaneously clutching said shaft, rotary element and power-transmission element together and a single instrumentality for actuating said clutching means, said instrumentality being in permanent operative relation thereto, as set forth.

6. In apparatus of the kind indicated, the combination of an engine having a shaft; a flywheel mounted on said shaft; a rotary element of a dynamo-electric machine co-aXial with said shaft, said rotary element also serving as a flywheel; and a power-transmission element; means for clutching said shaft, rotary element and transmission element together and a single instrumentality for actuating said clutching means, said instrumentality being in permanent operative relation thereto, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication.

RALPH LEONARD ASPDEN. 

